scherer



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

. M. C. SCHERER.

BURIAL APPARATUS.

No. 451,173. Patented Apr..28, 1891.

MAW M 4% 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. G. SOHERER. BURIAL APPARATUS.

Patented Apr. 28, 1891.

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lNiTED STATES PATENT FFIcE.

MARIA C. SCHERER, OF NEWV YORK, N. Y.

BURIAL APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 451,173, dated April 28, 1891.

Application filed April 28, 1890, Serial No. 349,757. (No model.)

To all whom it'may concern Be it known that I, MARIA O. SCHERER, of New York city, New York, have invented an Improved Device for Lowering Collins, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improveddevice for lowering coffins into the grave; and it consists in the various features of construction, more fully pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top view of my improved device for lowering coffins, and Fig. 2 a vertical longitudinal section of the same.

The letter a represents a square platform open at the center, where it is provided with two hinged trap-doors b. At the corners the platform a is supported by feet a, which are of a height to reach to the bottom of agrave. The trap-doors b are connected by coiled springs b to the lower face of the platform.

0 is a rope passing around a drum d, thence around friction-rollers b on doors I), thence around rollers a on frame a, and thence back to the drum. The drum cl is provided with a sheave d, around which is placed. a metal band (1 one end of which isfixed, while the. other end is connected to a lever (1 The sheave, together with the band and lever, constitute a brake.

In use the apparatus is placed into an open grave and the coffin A is placed upon the trapdoors. The brake being released, the weightof the coffin will cause the trap-doors to gradually open against the action of springs I), thus permitting a gradual descent of the coffin. When the coflin has completely opened the doors and has descended to the bottom of the grave, the doors are held in their open position by spring-hooks c. One end of the rope c is now detached from the drum, and the rope is drawn from underthe cofiin, after which the entire device is Withdrawn from the grave.

What I claim is 1. The combination of frame a with trapdoors I), hinged thereto and having rollers b and with a rope c, that passes over such rollers, substantially as specified.

2. The combination of frame at, having rollers a with hinged doors I), having rollers b and with drum d and a rope c, passing over the drum and the rollers a W, substantially as specified.

MARIA O. SCHERER.

Witnesses:

F. v. BRIESEN, A. J ONGHMANS. 

